Typica

In Eastern Orthodox Church, the liturgical service known as the Typica (Slavonic: изобразительныхъ', Izobrazítel'nykhə, or Ob'ednitsa) is appointed to be served whenever the Liturgy is not celebrated. This may be either because the Typicon does not permit the celebration of the Liturgy (as occurs, for example, on weekdays during Great Lent), the Typica may be served instead of Liturgy, or no priest is present or the priest for any reason does not serve the Liturgy. The Typica, like the hours that it is aggregated with, is rarely read in Greek churches (aside from Monasteries), but it is relatively common in Slavic churches.

The name "Typica" refers to the "Typical Psalms" (Psalm 102, Psalm 145, and the Beatitudes). Essentially, the Typica involves the psalms and prayers of the Liturgy of the Catechumens.

The Typica may be read publicly in the church, or it may be read privately at home. Often in missions, where there is no priest permanently assigned to serve the parish, the Typica will be read on Sundays in place of the Liturgy.

Normally, the Typica is read after the Third and Sixth Hours (in the place where the Liturgy would normally be celebrated). During Great Lent the Ninth Hour is inserted before Typica, and the format of the Typica changes.

During the reading of the Typica, Troparia may be inserted between the verses of the Beatitudes, as during the Divine Liturgy. However, during Great Lent this is not done; instead, the Beatitudes are chanted by the choir and between each verse they chant "Remember us, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom." Also, during Lent, Psalm 102 and Psalm 145 are omitted; and, as is typical of Lenten services, the Typica contains the Prayer of St. Ephraim.

The Typica is also read as the end of the Royal Hours on the Eve of Nativity, the Eve of Theophany, and on Great Friday (in these instances also, the Typica is read after the Ninth Hour).

The text of the Typica can be found in English in several places including "The Unabbreviated Horologion". The text in Church Slavonic is available in "Последование изобразительных – Celebration of the Typika".

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